Columnist Steve Addy: Spoonhour rejuvenated by time off

Steve Addy

Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2001 | 9:48 a.m.

Steve Addy covers college basketball for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at 259-4087 or by e-mail at addy@lasvegassun.com. Dean Juipe is on vacation.

The first time white-haired Charlie Spoonhour raised his voice to his UNLV players with salty words, all of the air seemed to leave the arena. It was like getting cussed out by your grandpa.

After a stunned moment, the players exhaled and practice resumed at a pace closer to the new coach's liking.

"It woke me up," senior Vince Booker said. "I thought, the season has begun."

More to the point, it showed that after two years of broadcasting basketball, not coaching it, the 62-year-old Spoonhour has regained the zest that made him successful at his previous stops.

It's still early, and that energy will be tested if the Rebels' overhaul proves stubborn. But in the first half-week of practice, Spoonhour has jumped back into the fray with both feet, a lot of heart and no whistle. When he has something to say, he simply yells, "Stop!"

He has been smack in the middle of the action, too. In transition drills, Spoonhour has been dodging speeding Rebels daily, with mixed success.

"Four guys went after the ball the other day and nearly clipped me. I'm not sure I've got my legs under me yet," he said with a chuckle.

Locals will surely grow accustomed to that.

Charlie Spoonhour chuckles a lot.

His cheeks get red and his eyes twinkle.

As long as he's here, he's going to be fun to be around.

"Everything he does, he has fun," assistant Jay Spoonhour said of his pop. "If he isn't having fun, he doesn't do it. Maybe that was why he left Saint Louis (in 1999). It wasn't as much fun for him anymore."

Charlie Spoonhour admits that. He never used the word "burnout" when he quit Saint Louis after seven seasons -- others volunteered it -- but he says a cushy TV gig began to sound more fun than the coaching grind.

"It just seemed like the defeats were bothering me more than they ever had, and I didn't enjoy the wins as much. I didn't like that. It's not fair to your team," he said.

Before accepting the Rebels job in March, Spoonhour asked himself the pertinent questions.

Do I have the energy for this?

Is my heart going to be in it?

Can I give this everything I have, or will I cheat my players?

Spoonhour's hiring was so sudden, so off-the-radar, in the post-Pitino hubbub that some UNLV fans wondered if he was merely swapping retirement for a more lucrative semi-retirement.

Based on early returns, Spoonhour will ease those concerns. He's been energetic, vocal and attendant to detail. He's letting his assistants have their say, but he's doing most of the talking, some of it quite colorful.

"(The players) probably don't appreciate me yelling all the time," Spoonhour said. "But if there's ever a time when I'm not making noise out there, it probably means I'm in the wrong place."

All of this guarantees nothing, of course.

But if the Rebels are mediocre this season, it won't be because their new coach is napping in his office or punching out early.